Thus closes my notes for the month of December and also for the year just passed and gone and now numbered with the things that were. Whether the Almighty will spare me to chronicle the daily events of the incoming year is more than I know but trusting in Him I shall enter upon the pleasing task, which is useful as a reference and may be profitable to those who have an interest in me.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

To day I sent Hicks to Crockett with my horse hawk for Mrs. Beale [Elizabeth Lemaire Beale nee Waring] to ride out on who arrived at night on a visit to see her daughter [Mary Alexandrien Sharp nee Lemaire]. I sent John to Mr. Keen's to get him to come over and fix my mill irons. Having taken up the mill stone I can do no corn grinding until the irons are repaired. I however ground 7 bushels of wheat. Weather clear and cool, with a frost at night.

Friday, January 31, 2014

To day I remained at home writing up this journal. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts], Mrs. Brooks and the children came up and spent the day with the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Mr. Wiesnowsky came out from Crockett and got the sign that I painted for Mr. Cox. He went down to Father's [Joshua James Hall] after the piano that the little woman had given Burt [Roberta Downes Halyard nee Hall] but did not succeed in obtaining it. Weather cloudy and cool with occasional showers of rain. Thus closes my jottings for the month of January just past and gone.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

To day the boys are still at work in the bottom field. Hicks is still at work covering in the cribs. Capt. Peacock and Mr. Fitzsimmons left for Magnolia. Father [Joshua James Hall] came up with the road hands having worked his section through from Hall's bluff to the Mills. I ground 13 bushels of corn. weather cloudy and warm with occasional showers of rain.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

To day the boys are still at work in the bottom field. Hicks still at work covering in the cribs. I ground 18 bushels of corn. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts], Father [Joshua James Hall], Mrs. Brooks (whose school has just terminated) and the children, came up to see the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. In the evening Capt. Peacock and Mr. Fitzsimmons arrived from Liberty on their way to Magnolia. they stopped for the night. The Capt. purchased for me the articles I sent for by him. he gave for a second hand gutta percha band 12$ per foot. just think of it when in good times or before the war it could have been purchased new for 50 cents per foot. Weather changeable & warm with strong indications of rain.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

To day I rebushed the mill and put down the mill stone and then ground 28 bushels of corn. Hicks is still at work covering in the cribs. In the evening the boys went to work in the bottom field. Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] and Mrs. Bird came to see the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp] and remained for dinner. Weather clear & pleasant.

Monday, January 27, 2014

To day the boys are still at work in the bottom field. Hicks is still covering in the cribs. Mrs. Bird came down to see us and brought home the piece of Jeans she has been weaving for the little woman [Margaret Hall Stewart nee Sharp]. Mr. Pennington's next child to the youngest died last night. Father [Joshua James Hall] and Mother [Mahala Sharp Hall nee Roberts] came up but did not remain long. I ground 11 bushels of corn and 2 bushels of wheat. The bushing of the mill worked out and I had to send to the lower field after the boys to assist me in taking up the mill stone in order to rebush the mill. Weather clear and pleasant but rather cool at night with a light frost.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

To day the boys are still at work in the bottom field. Hicks is still at work covering in the cribs. I ground 2 bushels of wheat and 20 bushels of corn. Weather clear & warm for the season of the year.

Sesquicentennial

In the year 1860, James Madison Hall sat down to pen a few lines in a journal, and thus began a project that would continue on an almost daily basis until his death almost 7 years later. On the 150th anniversary of the beginning of that journey -- 16th January 2010 -- J.M. Hall's writings began appearing on this blog on a (hopefully) daily basis.